Depression in College: Hiding in Plain Sight

By Marina Krivonossova on September 4, 2018

“I have depression.” It’s not a great conversation starter. It’s not the first thing you want associated with you. But it’s certainly something that’s greatly stigmatized. And that needs to change.

The psychological effects of falling into debt in order to attain a worthwhile education take a drastic toll on students (image via pixabay.com)

“What are you going to study in college? What are you doing after you graduate? Are you seeing anyone special? Did you ace that calculus final? Will you have enough units to graduate on time? Do you think you’ll manage to pay off student loans before you’re 40?”

As college students, we constantly get to deal with a barrage of such questions. We know that the pressure to succeed is real, and we know that we’re at a point in our lives where it feels like one tiny decision is bound to prove permanently life-altering. Given this intense pressure being put on us by peers, parents, and professors, it’s understandable why so many college students suffer from or are at risk for developing depression, a mental disorder which affects about 1 in 20 Americans.

So given that statistic, you may be asking – what actually is depression? At the very root, it is defined by the Mayo Clinic as, “a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.” Not to be confused with the temporary feeling of sadness one experiences when things don’t go as planned, depression is something beyond a slump one can simply snap out of — depression is lasting, painful, and often requires treatment.

Depression often means feeling lonely and abandoned, even though you’re not alone (image via pixabay.com)

But how actually relevant is depression in relation to college students? It’s more relevant than you might think. College students suffering from depression are more likely than their peers to drop out before earning a degree, more likely to exhibit suicidal tendencies, and overall less likely to reap the full benefits of the college experience. Approximately 30% of college students in 2016 reported symptoms of depression, according to a study done by the National Institute of Mental Health at Sacramento State University. The worst part about all of this is not just the fact that so many young adults are suffering from a dreadful mental disorder — it’s the fact that they’re scared to talk to other about it out of fear of judgment.

If depression is so prevalent, why do we hate to talk about it? The stigma around mental health issues stems from the fact that people don’t want to deviate from the norm or admit weakness. Everybody wants to be seen as positive, happy, bubbly. But the reality of the situation is that with so many people hurting due to the presence of depression, talking about it shouldn’t be viewed in a negative manner. Speaking about mental health brings light to the issues that are commonly seen as taboo, thus makes coping with them all the more doable.

If you broke your leg, would you feel awkward talking about it? Would you be embarrassed about going to a doctor and telling him/her what was wrong? Would you feel ashamed if you had to carry through with some sort of treatment that would heal you? More likely than not, your answer to all those questions was a simple “no.” Now, ask yourself the same questions, but replace “broke your leg” with “had depression.” There’s a solid chance that your answers have changed. This, as previously mentioned, stems from the stigma surrounding depression. Just because a mental health issue isn’t always as blatantly obvious as a physical health issue, it doesn’t make the suffering of the patient any less valid or any less worthy of attention or discussion.

Destroy the stigma. Destroy depression.
(image via pixabay.com)

In a perfect world, society is free from the confines of disease and disorders, and happiness prevails in the lives of all. But in our world, which is a ways away from achieving ideality, we must continue to fight with our demons, amongst which happens to be depression (for the 30 or so percent of us who are affected).

So if you’re suffering from depression, don’t be embarrassed or ashamed. Seek help when you feel you need it, take a moment to destress and breathe, and don’t isolate yourself from friends and family members who care about you. Whether you realize it or not, it’s not you against the world — it’s you and the world against depression. 

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format